The variation in snow totals across the region was considerably greater than indicated by the two measurements. The lower elevations of far west Duluth received far less snow than areas in the higher elevations and farther east along the lakeshore. Persistent lake enhancement and orographic lift during the storms duration greatly boosted snow totals along and inland of the ridge crest. The opinion of this observer is that nearly half of the snow was generated off the lake. As is the case with lake enhancement however, the snow off the lake was aided by lift from the storm system. So the two are actually connected. Lower elevated sections of East Duluth also did quite well with a favorable east wind off the lake. The western end of the city extends beyond the tip of the lake and cannot get a good trajectory off the lake with near direct east wind.
Snow began late in the morning on Sunday, January 25, and continued into the overnight morning hours of early Tuesday, January 27. Periods of snow produced by the storm system and periods of snow of the lake combined to keep the snow falling with either one being more dominant at different times. The best intersection of system snow and lake snow occurred from shortly after 9 PM on the 25th to about 10 AM on the 26th. Moderate to heavy snow from both sources resulted in frequent 1+ inch per hour snowfall rates. A few breaks in accumulating snow occurred during which only very light snow or flurries fell.
The storm transitioned into primarily a lake event by late in the evening of the 26th. A strong band of snow streaming into the head of Lake Superior dominated the snow production from late evening to about 3:15 AM. Weaker bands of snow off the lake and light snow from the storm system also continued at the same time. Snowfall rates again reached 1 inch per hour. Snow diminished during the rest of the overnight hours and finally ended as diamond dust flurries by 6 AM on the 27th.
The snow from this storm was very fluffy, especially the last part of the storm, which was dominated by snow off Lake Superior. Large flakes composed of loosely connected large dendrites contributed to the fluffiness.
